Rail-joint.



`A. SORKO & E4. RENCI.

BAIL JOINT.

APPLICATION I`ILBD'FBB.20, 1908.

905,475.r Patented DeoQl. 1908.

ANTON SORKO AND EDMUND RENCI, OF JOHNSTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAIL-JOINT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 1, 1908.

Application filed February 20, 1908. Serial No. 416,850.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that we, ANTON Sonno and EDMUND Reiser, subjects of the Emperor of Austria-Hungary, residing at Johnstown, in the county of Cambria and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail-Joints, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to a rail joint and the primary object of our invention is, to provide positive and reliable means for connecting the confronting ends of two rails, without the use of nuts and bolts.

Another object of this invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive rail joint that will prevent lateral and vertical displacement of the rails connected together.

A further object of this invention is to provide a joint that will be strong and durable, and highly efficient for the purposes for which it is used.

Vith the above and other objects in view which will more readily appear as the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described, and then particularly claimed.

In the drawings z-Figure 1 is an end view of our rail joint, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a splice bar used in connection with the joint, Fig. 3 is a similar view of another splice bar used in connection with the joint, Fig. 4- is a perspective view of one of the keys for locking the joint, Fig. 5 is an enlarged elevation of a oint constructed in accordance with our invention, and Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of the same.

To put our invention into practice, we provide two bars having interlocking base plates adapted to rest upon two ties, counter sunk in a road bed or a ballast, to that eX- tent that the adjoining rails will rest upon other ties embedded in the road bed. The interlocking splice bars are adapted to be connected together yby tapered keys, which are retained in position by cotter pins or similar devices.

The reference numeral 1 designates rails having their confronting ends embraced by splice bars 2 and 3, these splice bars carrying interlocking base plates. The splice bar 2 is formed integral with a base plate 4: having a transverse opening 5, L-shaped tongues 6 and recesses 7 The splice bar 3 is formed integral with a base plate 8 having tongues 9, recesses 10, and a transverse opening 11, said opening being adapted to register with the opening 5, whilev the tongues 9 are adapted to t in the recesses 7 of the base plate 4: and the tongues 6`of said base plate lit in the recesses 10 of the base plate 8.` The tongues 6 and 9 are so disposed that there will be a tongue at one end of each of the base plates and another tongue at a point removed from an end of a base plate.

After the base plates l and 8 have been placed in engagement with one another, the ends of the rails 1 are inserted between the splice bars 2 and 3, and then tapered keys 12 are driven in the openings 5 and 11, to force said base plates together and cause the splice bars 2 and 3 to firmly engage the confronting ends of the rails 1. Cotter pins or split wedges 13 are employed to lock the tapered keys 12 in position. These cotter pins or split wedges can be dispensed with, if so desired.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the drawings, it will be observed that we have devised positive and reliable means for securing the confronting ends of two rails together, and have dispensed with the use of nuts and bolts as heretofore employed.

Our splice bars and their integral base plates are preferably cast of strong and durable metal, and the construction of said base plates and splice bars permits of the same being easily and quickly assembled without the use of skilled labor.

Having now described our invention what we claim as new, is

1. In a rail joint, the combination with rails, of splice bars adapted to embrace the confronting ends of said rails, base plates formed integral with said splice bars, one of said base plates being provided with L-shaped tongues adapted to fit in recesses provided therefor in the adjoining base plate, said adjoining base plate being provided with L-shaped tongues adapted to t in recesses of the other of said base plates, said tongues so disposed that one will be positioned at each end of a base plate and one at a point removed from the other end of a base plate, the tongues of one base plate oppositely disposed with respect to the tongues of the other base plate, tapered keys mounted in said base plates for holding said splice bars in engagement with said rails, and cotter pins mounted in said tapered keys, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. In a rail joint, the combination with a pair of rails, splice bars adapted to embrace the confronting ends of said rails, base plates formed integral With said splice bars and adapted to overlap the base of the rails, one of said base plates Vbeing provided With L-shaped tongues adapted to lit in/reeesses provided therefor in the adjoining base plate, said adjoining plate being provided with L-shaped tongues adapted to fit in recesses of the other of said base plates, each of said base plates formed With a transversely eX- tending opening, the opening in said plates registering With each other, the tongues of 

